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  • Citizens More Than Soldiers: The Kentucky Militia and Society in the Early Republic
  • George N. Vourlojianis
Citizens More Than Soldiers: The Kentucky Militia and Society in the Early Republic. By Harry S. Laver. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2007. ISBN 978-8032-2970-9. Appendix. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Pp. 216. $45.00.

Citizens More Than Soldiers by Harry S. Laver begins by taking its readers to fictitious Yoknapatawpha County, Mississippi, where William Faulkner describes the local militia company as ill-led, route stepping buffoons who were more proficient at drinking cheap whiskey and eating barbecue than they were at being soldiers. In the republic’s early years many Americans probably would have agreed with Faulkner’s observations. Laver disagrees with this depiction. He peels away myths and negative stereotypes to present an in-depth, convincing argument that “. . . the militia was more influential than any other formal community organization in the transformation of early nineteenth century American society” (p. 3).

American society was in flux. Advances in transportation rapidly transformed wilderness posts into cities. Hand crafted goods for local consumption began to be replaced by mass produced machine made products for regional and national markets. Traditional class alignments were changing. A man’s place and position in society was also being redefined. Militia influences remained steadfast and perhaps retroactive in the midst of these changes. Though regional in focus, Laver’s conclusions have validity anywhere in the country.

To prove his point Laver identifies three principal areas affected by the militia during this formative period of change: community life, politics, and masculinity. The first two chapters introduce the reader to the militia’s traditional roles and to the subject’s existing historiography. Chapters three and four describe the impact of militia activities on communities at large. Parades, patriotic celebrations, cannon firing, and honor guards for visiting dignitaries served to reinforce the notion of American nationalism and provided a social outlet for the militiamen and for the communities they served. Chapter five focuses on politics. Musters served as vehicles for political stumping. What better way to prove worthiness as a candidate for the legislature or some other elected office than to serve with distinction with one’s constituents in the local militia company. The record also indicates that a candidate’s less than honorable service, real or contrived, might result in a loss of votes. Nevertheless, at any level or for any office sought, honorable militia service was currency at the ballot box. he last chapter argues that the militia served as a bastion of traditional manly behavior. Behavior whose origins were found in antiquity: discipline, patriotism, honor, fraternal exclusivity, courage, and the mastery of arms. The last third of the book contains an appendix of twelve tables that provide information on the age, economic status, political involvement, and slave ownership of Kentucky militiamen from the 1790s frontier period through the Mexican War. This statistical data provides another source with which to analyze the militias’ impact on their respective communities. Notes and a sound bibliography that includes diaries, census records, muster rolls, tax lists, journal accounts, and letters are also included in this section of the book.

Scholars and students of the American militia system will find this well organized and well written book to be an insightful and valuable addition to their professional libraries. Mr. Laver accomplishes his goal of interpreting the militia’s impact on the early republic’s growth. The arguments put forth widen the scope of existing studies and provide depth for the exploration of militia influences on local communities, politics, and masculinity today. Citizens More Than Soldiers is an excellent social history of a military subject. [End Page 943]

George N. Vourlojianis
Lorain County Community College
Elyria, Ohio
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